AP
September 2002
'Six Feet Under,' 'Friends,' poised for top Emmy honors
By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- After last September's unsettled Emmy Awards,
organizers are welcoming a return to show business as usual. It's
anything but, however, when it comes to the boldest pack of Emmy
contenders yet.
And guess what -- they have a real shot Sunday at winning.
They include sexy Jennifer Garner of "Alias," sizzling comedy star
Bernie Mac and the deliciously morbid HBO drama "Six Feet Under" may
end up with Emmy gold.
"We'll see more new faces at the podium than at any time in recent
history," predicts Tom O'Neil, author of "The Emmys" and creator of
Goldderby.com, which tracks award predictions.
Watching the usually hidebound nominations loosen up is almost reward
enough.
"Frasier," for instance, has earned its place in Emmy history as the
most-honored program of all time but didn't earn a best-comedy bid
(which would have been its ninth).
Instead, there was Hollywood justice and a nomination for the HBO
comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm," a gimlet-eyed look at life
from "Seinfeld" co-creator Larry David.
Even more eye-popping was the nomination for Michael Chiklis of "The
Shield" on FX. That's BASIC cable, not a highfalutin' premium channel.
Newbies won't snatch all the glory. This could be the year academy
voters become friends of "Friends," finally giving the NBC sitcom a
hug as best comedy series and maybe smooching two of its stars as
well.
After viewing the episodes submitted by nominees, including some
proving actors are not their own best judges, here are our calls in
the major categories (also posted on Goldderby).
Best actress, drama series: Energetic "Alias" star Garner roughs up
bad guys, weeps over her slain fiance and confronts her father's
duplicity while living a double life as a student-spy in the show's
pilot. Brava! Rachel Griffiths inexplicably picked a "Six Feet Under"
episode in which she's in relatively few scenes and is sullen in most
of them. Allison Janney, who shifted to this category after winning
supporting actress honors last year, can't escape the ensemble spirit
of "The West Wing." The Emmy goes to Garner.
© AP 2002
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